Railway vehicle



April 25, 1939. B. w. KADEL ET AL RAILWAY VEHICLE Filed Jan. 14, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 25, 1939. B. w. KADEL ET AL RAILWAY VEHI CLE Filed Jan. 14, 1 955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jay/11a J Ear-Paws April 25, 1939. B. w. KADEL ETAL RAILWAY VEHICLE Filed Jan. 14, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 25, 1939 HE STATES 2,155,662 RAILWAY VEHICLE Byers W. Kadel, Baltimore, Md, and Donald S.

Barrows, Rochester,

N. Y., assignors to The Symington-Gould Corporation, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application January-14, 1935, Serial No. 1,172

26 Claims.

This invention relates to railway vehicles and, more particularly, to relatively light cars carrying only four wheels each.

The principal object of our invention, generally considered, is the provision of a four-wheel car, light in weight and economical to manufacture, and so constructed that it is easy-riding and not liable to derail.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a railway vehicle comprising pedestals in which journal boxes are vertically movable, and vehicle supporting springs housed in said pedestals and adapted to provide for an unusual amount of vertical wheel movement in order to allow for track irregularities.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a nest of vehicle supporting springs for use with a journal box receiving pedestal, said nest comprising a longitudinally arranged leaf or elliptic spring surrounded by a plurality of coil springs.

A still further object of our invention is the provision of pedestals for railway vehicle journal boxes, each having a longitudinal way above the journal box for housing an elliptic or leaf spring, and transverse openings providing space for associated coil springs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating our invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims:-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of a four-wheel railway vehicle embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, the associated journal box being shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a four-wheel railway vehicle embodying our invention.

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to- Fig. 1, but showing another embodiment of ourinvention.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, the associated journal box, however, being shown in elevation. I

Fig, 6 is a partial fragmentary side elevational view and partial sectional view of another form of railway vehicle embodying our invention, the supporting springs being shown in unloaded positions, as when not even supporting the weight I of the unloaded'car body.

Fig. 'l is a view corresponding to Fig. 6, but showing the condition of the springs when under the load of the empty car body.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and first considering the embodiment of our invention: illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a fragmentary portion of a railway vehicle underframe I supported by four wheels 2. Inasmuch as the mounting for each wheel is identical, the description will be for the mounting of one wheel only.

Each truck of an eight-wheel railway vehicle automatically adjusts itself to the irregularities of the track. The side frames have rocking motion relative to each other so that one wheel may be considerably lower or higher than the other three, if a four-wheel truck is under consideration, without much difference in rail pressure, and, therefore, no danger of derailment. If a single truck had a wheel base of thirteen feet, six inches, for example, the derailment problem would be quite serious, because the difference in elevation between one wheel and the other three might easily be much greater than with the standard short truck.

A four-wheel car with pedestals such as those designated by the reference character 3 is practic'ally the same as an extremely long pedestal type truck, and provision must be made for a much greater vertical travel of the individual boxes, such as designated by the reference character 4. This requires springs of much longer travel so that each box may be followed up, and asafe proportion of the car body load maintained on each wheel regardless of track conditions.

' Either the entire spring group may be made of long travel, or the greater proportion of the load can be carried upon springs of more nearly normal travel, while certain springs are made of much longer travel in order to follow up the boxes at times, for example, when the associated wheels drop into low spots in the track.

In order to'accomplish the results desired with regard to the vehicle illustrated, we employ a nest of springs .5 disposed-between the roof of the box 4 and a. portion of the associated pedestal 3 or underframe of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the nest of springs comprises a longitudinally arranged leaf, semi-elliptic, or elliptic spring 6, said spring being desirably disposed over the center of the box and extending longitudinally, with its ends housed between the walls I of the pedestal 3. The spring 6, if desired, may be of sufficient length so that its end blocks or end portions 8 extend somewhat beyond the ends of the pedestal 3 to allow for convenient inspection.

In order to augment the travel of the nest of springs illustrated, we desirably employ a coil spring 9 acting in series with the elliptic spring 6 and desirably disposed above the upper spring band ll] of said elliptic spring in engagement with a follower II which desirably fits over said band Ill. The spring 9 is desirably housed above the follower H in a downwardly opening pocket 52 formed in an extension l3 of the pedestal 3, which is received between the channels forming the side sill or sills [4 of the vehicle I. The coil spring 9, which is shown in unloaded or generally free condition, provides for augmenting the effective travel of the nest of springs, thereby providing the desired follow-up of the associated box 5 and wheel 2 when a low spot in the track is reached, with consequent avoidance of derailment.

When the nest of springs is loaded, the elliptic spring 6 and its associated coil spring 9 are compressed simultaneously until the follower ll solidly engages the abutment portion l5 of the pedestal 3, thereby preventing the delivery of excessive blows to the relatively light spring and allowing the remainder of the weight of the vehicle, at the pedestal under consideration, to be delivered directly to the elliptic spring 6 through the shoulders 55, follower H, and spring band ID.

If additional capacity is desired at the pedestal under consideration, we may employ four coil springs it, two on each-side of the elliptic spring 5, said coil springs being desirably of such a height that they come into action after the auxiliary spring 9 has been compressed to its limit by engagement of the follower II with the shoulders l5, after which the coil springs l6 act in parallel with the elliptic spring 6. In order to maintain the coil springs I6 in place, collars or lugs I! over which said springs fit are desirably provided on the top of the journal box 4 and depending collars or lugs I3 fitting in the tops of said springs are desirably provided on the'pedestal 3. The collars or lugs [8 are desirably of such a length that the springs l6 cannot be disengaged from them even when in the completely unloaded condition illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. In order to limit downward movement of the journal box 4 in the pedestal 3, as well as for rigidifying the construction, the lower ends of said pedestal are desirably secured together by a tie plate [9. The journal box, of course, has flanges 20 which embrace guiding portions 2i of the pedestal in order to insure that said box will have the desired vertical movement with respect tosaid pedestal, with the avoidance of undesired lateral displacement.

In Fig. 3 we have shown diagrammatically a four-wheel car i in which the position of the wheels 2 at one end corresponds with a loaded condition of the associated supporting springs, while the position of the wheels 2 at the other or right end of said car corresponds with an unloaded or partially unloaded condition of the springs, as might occur when the wheels 2 drop into the low spot 22 on the supporting track 23. Even though the main springs 6 and I6 might not have sufficient travel for following the journal box and wheels at an unusually low spot, such as represented by the reference character 22, yet the supplemental spring 9 has the desired travel for following the box 4 after it has moved downwardly so as to leave the elliptic spring 6 substantially free of load and unable to expand to a sufiicient extent to prevent the flange on one of the wheels 2 from clearing the rail 23 and causing a derailment.

Referring now to the embodiment of our invetion illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, there is shown a fragmentary portion of a railway vehicle underframe l supported by four wheels 2 only one of which is illustrated. The wheels have journals (not shown), each of which is received in a box 4 vertically movable in a pedestal 3 each pedestal being, in the present embodiment, secured to a side sill I l of the vehicle.

In order to provide for following up the movement of the boxes 4 in the pedestals 3 for reasons described in connection with the preceding embodiment, we employ a nest of springs 5 disposed between the roof of the box 4 and a portion of the associated pedestal 3 or underframe of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the nest of springs comprises a longitudinally arranged leaf, semi-elliptic, or elliptic spring (i said spring being desirably disposed over the center of the box, with its ends housed between the walls l of the pedestal 3 The spring 6 is illustrated as of a length sufficient so that its end portions 8 are visible beyond the pedestal 3*, thereby allowing for convenient inspection.

In order to increase the capacity of the spring supporting means, and at the same time provide for the desired large amount of travel of the nest of springs as a whole, we desirably employ four coil springs I6 two on each side of the elliptic spring 6 said coil springs being desirably of varying height so that they come into action at different times, with the spring of greatest free height adapted to follow the downward movement of the journal box 4 into any low spot in the track which may be encountered, thereby positively avoiding derailment due to irregularity in track elevation.

A preferred embodiment of our invention involves making two diagonally disposed springs l6 of greater free height than the elliptic spring 6 and the othertwo of the same or smaller free height. As an example, we may make the outermost left-hand coil spring, as viewed in Figure 4, of one-half inch greater free height than the elliptic spring 6 and the innermost right-hand coil spring of one inch greater free height than the elliptic spring 6, and the innermost lefthand coil spring of a free height substantially equal to that of the elliptic spring 6, and the outermost right-hand coil spring of a free height one-half inch less than that of the elliptic spring 6' Or, to give a definite non-limiting illustration, we may use an elliptic spring having a free height of eleven inches, and coil springs having free heights, respectively, of ten and onehalf, eleven, eleven and one-half, or twelve inches, the tallest helical springs bei'ng diagonally disposed with respect to one another, and the coil springs of ten and one-half and eleven and one-half inch heights being disposed outwardly of the vehicle. In order to accommodate the coil springs, each pedestal not only has the longitudinally extending ways for receiving the elliptic spring, but also has a transversely extending opening for receiving the coil springs mounted outwardly and inwardly of the elliptic spring.

In order to maintain the helical springs Ili in place, upstanding ribs or lugs l l telescoping with said springs are desirably provided on the top of the journal box and corresponding collars or lugs l8 telescoping in the tops of said springs are desirably provided on the pedestal 3 The collars or lugs 18% are desirably of such a length that the springs cannot be disengaged from them even when in the completely unloaded condition illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

In order to limit downward movement of the journal box 4 in the pedestal 3 as well as for rigidifying the construction, the lower ends of said pedestal are desirably secured together by a tie plate ES The journal box of course, has flanges Ed which embrace guiding portions 21 of the pedestal in order to insure that said box will move vertically without undesired lateral displacement.

The elliptic spring 5* may be of the form illustrated in which certain of the short leaves, such as designated by the reference character 24, do not come into play with the adjacent longer leaves until such longer leaves have been somewhat deflected. In other words, such shorter leaves are normally spaced from the longer leaves at their ends, as illustrated, thereby providing an elliptic spring which has an initial mild cushioning action which builds up in capacity more rapidly the further it is compressed.

The springs of the nest 5i previously described will come into action sequentially, that is, the longest coil spring will first'be compressed, then the next longest, then the elliptic spring and the coil spring of the same height simultaneously, and finally, the shortest coil spring if the arrangement specifically described is employed,.

thereby allowing for the desired long travel with a relatively small initial spring action and a maximum capacity when the maximum load is applied to the nest.

Referring now to the embodiment of our invention illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8, there is shown a fragmentary portion of a railway vehicle l supported by four Wheels 2*, only one or", which is illustrated. Each wheel has an associated journal box i mounted for vertical movement in a pedestal 3 Disposed between the top of each journal box 4 and the associated pedestal 3' or portion of the vehicle underframe is a nest of springs 5 constructed so as to provide for an unusually long spring movement for following up the box and preventing the associated wheel from leaving the track even under unusual conditions.

In the present embodiment, the nest of springs 5 comprises a longitudinally arranged leaf or semi-elliptic spring 8 said spring being desirably disposed over the center of the box, and with its ends housed between the walls l of the pedestal 3 and engaging wear blocks 25 slidable on abutment portions 25 of the pedestal 3 upon flexing of the spring 5*.

The spring band lll desirably fits in a spring plate or follower l l which functions as an upper spring cap for associated coil springs 9 acting in series with the semi-elliptic spring 6 The lower portions of said coil springs t desirably engage shelves 2? formed on the sides of the,

journal box 4* and providing upwardly opening pockets 2% receiving the lower ends ofsaid springs 9 In order to provide for the desired long movement of the nest of springs, the coil springs involveon each side of each box an outer relatively heavy coil of relatively short movement 29 and an inner relatively light'coil of relatively long movement 30, the free heights of said coils being represented in Figure 6, and the position of the parts when the unloaded weight of the car body is supported by said springs is represented in Figure 7, it being noted that then the long travel coil 38 has been compressed until engagement is effected between the follower ,I I and the shorter, relatively short travel, higher capacity spring 29. As in the preceding embodiments, the lower portions of the pedestal 3 are desirably secured together by a tie plate 19 the plate of the present embodiment, however, being illustrated as of an angular rather than straight form, with the end portions bent into inverted U-shape and secured to the outer webs 3! of the pedestals as by means of rivets 32.

When the nest of springs described in connection with Figures 6, 7 and 8 is put under load, the relatively long coil springs 30 are first compressed in series with the semi-elliptic spring 6*, which latter spring, being of relatively high capacity, is not compressed as fast as the coil springs 30, until engagement is effected between the spring plate li and the relatively stiff, shorter coil springs 29, when all said springs may then be compressed in series to full capacity.

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be seen that we have devised a four-wheel railway vehicle employing supporting springs, some of which are of abnormal free heights, or, where a portion of the capacity is provided for following up the associated journal boxes through abnormal vertical movements, thereby providing for the maintenance of the associated wheels in engagement with the track under all operating conditions.

Although preferred embodiments of our invention have been illustrated, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal rigidly attached to the vehicle, a journal box vertically movable therein, a longitudinally arranged leaf spring housed in said pedestal and acting to support said vehicle from the box coil springs associated with said leaf spring for the support of said vehicle, and means formed on said box for holding said coil springs in position; one of said springs having a free height suflicient to carry a part of a superimposed load when the remainder of said springs are free to thereby provide a sequential compressive movement of said springs.

2. Ina railway vehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein, and a longitudinally arranged semi-elliptic spring housed in, and with its ends engaging wear blocks slidable on abutments on, said pedestal and resilient means interposed between said spring and box to support said vehicle from the box.

3. In a railwayvehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein, a longitudinally arranged full elliptic spring housed in said pedestal and acting to support said vehicle from the box and coil springs positioned intermediate the ends of and associated with said elliptic spring for the support of said vehicle, said elliptic and coil, springs being of different free heights and arranged to come into action sequentially.

4. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal depending from a side sill, a journal box vertically movable therein, a longitudinally arranged leaf spring housed in said pedestal and acting to support said vehicle, a coil spring acting in series with said leaf spring, between said sill and box. and with its adjacent end portion received in a pocket provided by one of them, for augmenting the travel of the arrangement, and spring means associated with said journal box and arranged so as to come into action after said coil and leaf springs have been compressed a predetermined amount.

5. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein, a longitudinally arranged leaf spring housed in said pedestal and acting to support said vehicle from said box, and a coil spring in substantially the same horizontal plane as and acting in parallel with said leaf spring, said coil spring having a free height great enough to carry some of the load when the leaf spring is free, for augmenting the travel of the arrangement.

6. In a railway vehicle having a side sill, a pedestal depending therefrom, a journal box vertically movable in said pedestal, a leaf spring housed in said pedestal and serving to support said vehicle, a coil spring housed in said sill above said leaf spring and acting in series therewith, and a follower disposed between said coil and leaf springs and acting to engage a stop portion on said sill when the coil spring has been stressed to capacity to then allow the leaf spring to be further compressed independently of said coil spring.

'7. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein, a longitudinally arranged leaf spring housed in said pedestal and engaging the top of said box for the support of said vehicle, a coil spring acting in series with said leaf spring for augmenting the travel of the arrangement, and a plurality of other coil springs disposed on opposite sides of said leaf spring, engaging the top of the box, and acting in parallel with said leaf spring after the first-mentioned coil spring has been compressed a predetermined amount.

8. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein, a leaf spring housed in said pedestal and engaging the top of said box for the support of said vehicle therefrom, and coil springs disposed on either side of said leaf spring, acting in parallel therewith, and serving to augment the travel of the arrangement, said coil springs being of varying free heights so that first one is stressed a predetermined amount, then another comes into action, then the leaf spring, and then another of said coil springs.

9. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein, a leaf spring extending longitudinally of said vehicle, housed in said pedestal and acting between it and a spring plate therebeneath, and coil springs acting, between end portions of said spring plate and abutment portions extending from the sides of said box, in series with said leaf spring for augmenting the travel of the arrangement.

10. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal depending from a side sill, a journal box vertically movable therein, a longitudinally arranged leaf spring acting to support said vehicle, a coil spring acting in series with said leaf spring, between said sill and box, and with its adjacent end portion housed by one of them, for augmenting the travel of the arrangement and spring means positioned on said journal box and arranged so as to be compressed after said coil and leaf springs have been compressed a predetermined amount.

11. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal de pending from side sills thereof, a journal box vertically movable in said pedestal, a leaf spring acting between said journal box and sills for supporting said vehicle, a coil spring housed between said sills above said leaf spring and acting in series therewith, and a follower disposed between said coil and leaf springs and acting to engage a stop when the coil spring is stressed to capacity to then allow the leaf spring to be further compressed independently of said coil spring.

12. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein, a longitudinally arranged leaf spring housed in said pedestal and acting between it and a spring plate therebeneath, and coil springs acting between end portions of said plate and abutment portions extending from the sides of the box and disposed below the top surface thereof, said coil springs acting in series with said leaf spring for augmenting the travel of the arrangement.

13. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal depending from a side sill, a journal box vertically movable therein, a leaf spring extending longitudinally of said vehicle and housed in said pedestal, said leaf spring engaging the top of said box for the support of said Vehicle, a coil spring housed in said sill above said leaf spring and acting in series therewith for augmenting the travel of the arrangement, and a plurality of other coil springs engaging the top of said box, positioned on opposite sides of said leaf spring, and acting in parallel therewith only after the first-mentioned coil spring has been compressed a predetermined amount.

14. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein, a semielliptic spring disposed longitudinally of said vehicle, resting on a plate in said pedestal, and with its ends engaging abutments on said pedestal for the support of said vehicle, and coil springs acting between end portions of said plate and abutment portions extending from the sides of said box, in

series with said semi-elliptic spring for augmenting the travel of the arrangement.

15. In a railway vehicle having a removably secured pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein, a longitudinally arranged leaf spring housed in said pedestal and acting to support said vehicle from the box, coil springs associated with said leaf spring in the proximity of the intermediate portion thereof, and spring-retaining means integrally formed on said box for holding said coil springs in position; some of said springs being compressed only after the other of said springs have been compressed a predetermined degree.

16. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein, a longitudinally arranged leaf spring housed in said pedestal and acting to support said vehicle from the box, coil springs associated with the intermediate portion of said leaf spring for the support of said vehicle, and spring-retaining means integrally formed on said box for holding said coil springs in position, said coil and leaf springs being arranged so as to act sequentially.

1'7. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein, a leaf spring extending longitudinally of said vehicle housed in said pedestal and acting between it and a movable spring plate, said spring plate being normally spaced above said journal box, and a coil spring between said spring plate and abutment portions extending from the sides of said box acting in series with said leaf spring for augmenting the travel of the arrangement.

18. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein, and a longitudinally arranged leaf spring housed in said pedestal, the ends of said spring engaging wear blocks slidably mounted on the pedestal, a spring plate normally spaced above said journal box and in supporting engagement with the leaf spring, and resilient means interposed between said spring plate and box to support said vehicle from the box.

19. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein, and a longitudinally arranged semi-elliptic spring housed in said pedestal, the ends of said spring engaging wear blocks slidably mounted in the pedestal, a movable spring plate spaced above said journal box engaging the semi-elliptic spring intermediate the ends thereof, and resilient means interposed between said spring plate and box to support said vehicle from the box.

20. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein, a longitudinally arranged leaf spring housed in said pedestal in a plane above the journal box and acting to support said vehicle from said box, a coil spring in substantially the same horizontal plane as the leaf spring and acting in parallel with said leaf spring, said coil spring having a free height greater than the free height of the leaf spring whereby said coil spring is adapted to support the vehicle when the leaf spring is free.

21. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein, a longitudinally arranged full elliptic spring housed in said pedestal normally in bearing relation with said journal box and spaced from the pedestal, a coil spring group in bearing relation with said journal box and associated with said elliptic spring for the support of said vehicle, said elliptic and coil springs being so associated with the pedestal and journal box that they come into action sequentially.

22. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein, a leaf spring housed in said pedestal for the support of said vehicle from said box, a coil spring disposed on either side of said leaf spring acting in parallel therewith and serving to augment the travel of the arrangement, said leaf spring comprising a plurality of varied length leaves, the shorter of which are normally spaced from the longer leaves, thereby increasing the capacity of the leaf spring during compression. T

23. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein, a longitudinally arranged leaf spring housed in said pedestal and acting to support said vehicle from the box, said leaf spring comprising varied length leaves, the shorter of which are normally spaced from the longer leaves, thereby increasing the capacity of the spring during compression, and a coil spring acting in series said leaf spring for augmenting the travel of the arrangement.

24. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein, a leaf spring positioned in said pedestal and acting between said pedestal and a spring plate therebeneath, abutment portions extending from the sides of said box, and-coil springs acting between end portions of said spring plate and said abutments.

25. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein and guided thereby, a semi-elliptic leaf spring extending longitudinally of the vehicle and having ends thereof in supporting relation with said vehicle a spring plate spaced vertically from said journal box and having a spring seat intermediate the ends thereof for the accommodation of a band of said semi-elliptic spring, and longitudinally spaced resilient means interposed between said spring plate and abutments formed on side walls of said journal box; said resilient means bearing against spring seats formed adjacent the ends of said spring plate.

26. In a railway vehicle having a pedestal, a journal box vertically movable therein and guided thereby, a longitudinally arranged leaf spring housed in and reacting against said pedestal, longitudinally spaced spring means positioned outwardly of side walls of said journal box and bearing upon abutments formed integrally with said side walls, and means interposed between said leaf spring and spring means; said means having a seat for a band of said leaf spring and horizontally spaced seats for said spring means.

BYERS W. KADEL. DONALD S. BARROWS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,155,662. April 25, 1959.

BYERS w. KADEL, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, second column, line 11;, claim 25, after "series" insert with; arid that the said- Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of June, A. D. 1959.

t Henry Van Arsdale weal) I .e I Acting Commiesioner of Patents; 

